With February 5 being the 'National Wear Red Day,' marking the yearly heart health awareness event sponsored by the American Heart Association, Lake Regional Hospital intends offering Heart Month Vascular Screening on February 20, between 7:30 and 10 a. m., in its third floor conference rooms.

There is no registration pre-condition for the free cardiovascular disease screening; and along with the screening, the participants will be offered $15 pocket EKGs and $5 lipid profiles.

The key aim of celebrating the 'National Wear Red Day' is to increase awareness about the growing risk of heart disease faced by women. The initiative specifically seeks to inform women about the signs and symptoms of heart disease; as well as educate them about the notable role that better nutrition, physical activity and other lifestyle changes can play in lowering the risk of heart disease.

Noting that wearing red this Friday will serve as a reminder to women to make some lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of heart disease and death, and also go in for routine screenings and checkups, Anita Marlay, from Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, said: "More than half of heart attacks in women younger than 50 are related to smoking."

Marley advised: "If you stop smoking, in just one year you will have reduced your risk of heart attack by half."